BEACH PHOTOGRAPHY

BEACH PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BEGINNERS

Beach photography is popular and when we go on beach vacations we want to capture the scene exactly like we remembered it right?​Contrary to popular belief beach photography isn’t easy. Sure, getting an okay shot is pretty straightforward but capturing stunning beach photos is trickier and requires a bit of thought. The other problem with beach photography is that most of the photos are alike. This is fine if you want to follow the masses but what about if you want to make a mark in beach photography and do something a little different?

Below are some beach photography tips that will improve your beach photos and, hopefully, provide some inspiration for some different types of beach photos that will impress.

1) Beach photography tips - make sure you nail the exposure

Have you ever taken a photo of the beach only to find that when you got home the sand was dirty and not the golden colour you remember? Beach photography can play havoc with the camera’s internal meter. If you shoot in aperture priority mode or shutter priority mode and let the camera decide on the best shutter speed/aperture (obviously depending on what mode you are using) for the correct exposure you will find the golden sands look dirty and are under exposed. The reason for this is because the sand is reflective. To overcome this you need to intentionally over expose the shot and you can do this in one of two ways.

Firstly you can shoot in aperture priority mode or shutter priority mode, let the camera decide on the other element for correct exposure and then dial in 1 – 2 stops of positive exposure compensation.

Alternatively, you can shoot in full manual mode dial in the desired aperture or shutter speed, and then adjust the other setting until the exposure needle shows 1 – 2 stops over exposure.

2) Beach photography tips - use a graduated ND filter

Beach photography is one of those times when the photograph will show correctly exposed sand and sea with an over exposed and washed out sky or a correctly exposed sky with under exposed sand and sea, unless you use a graduated ND filter.

Using a graduated ND filter will help you balance the exposure between the sand/sea and the sky, which will make a more true to life photo. If you use an ND filter you could even slow down the exposure of the sky and intentionally under expose it a little (half a stop or so) to bring out even more detail. If you decide to underexpose the sky you need to be careful not to push it too far, otherwise the photo won’t look right.​You only need hard edged graduated ND filters for beach photography, because the horizon is straight, and whilst it is useful to have the filter in many strengths if you only want to carry around, and use, one I would recommend a 2 stop graduated ND filter. I find I use the 2 stop graduated ND filter more than any other graduated ND filter in my beach photography, so it is often my go to filter.

I use Hitech graduated ND filters, and I have to say that I am very impressed with them. The Hitech graduated ND filters are the best compromise between cost and quality, and are therefore top value for money. I wouldn't use any other graduated ND filters for my beach photography, even if I had the budget to "upgrade" to the very expensive Lee graduated ND filters, and I have no hesitation in recommending the Hitech graduated ND filters. Buy the Hitech graduated ND filters from Amazon.com (US citizens) or buy from Amaon.co.uk (UK citizens)

​3) Beach photography tips - consider taking a long exposure

Beach photography is perfect for long exposure photography so why not have a go yourself and create a mood and emotive photo that will impress.

In order to slow the shutter speed right down to capture some movement and give the sea that milky and ethereal effect you are going to need a neutral density filter. I use the square slot in neutral density filters because this system enables me to use a graduated ND filter as well (to balance the sky as well) but a screw in type neutral density filter will also work.

Slower shutter speeds increases the chances of camera shake which in turn increases the likelihood of blurry photos. When taking long exposures you will need a sturdy tripod and you will also need a sturdy base to stop the tripod sinking in the sand.​Long exposure photography is popular at the moment, and when you consider the type of phots you can capture with this technique it is easy to see why. When you take long exposures consider using a graduated ND filter to balance the sky and also remember to include a point of interest too.

When ever I take long exposures I use the Zomei 10 stop ND filter, and I think it is excellent. The Zomei 10 stop ND filter produces results as good as the top end Lee big stopper and Hitech 10 stop ND filters, but it is a fraction of the cost. The Zomei 10 stop ND filter gives the biggest bang for the buck, and you may want to take a look at "review of the Zomei 10 stop ND filter".

4) Beach photography tips – consider freezing the action of the waves

Beach photography provides the opportunity to “freeze” time and create dramatic and powerful photos, providing the sea conditions (and partly the weather conditions) are right.

Where there are large waves crashing against some rocks creating spray you can use a fast shutter speed to freeze the wave and capture the water in detail. Similarly, if the waves are breaking hard or there are barrels freezing these using a fast shutter speed can lead to some cool photos.

In order to get a fast shutter speed you are going to need to use a pretty wide aperture, however it is important not to open the lens too much as you won’t get the necessary depth of field. I always try and get the shutter speed I need by pushing the ISO. There are times when I push the ISO real high to intentionally introduce digital noise, and the reason I do this is I convert the photos to black and white and I think a bit of noise in a black and white photo gives a retro look and makes wave photos even more powerful and dramatic.

So there we have it, 4 tips that should change your beach photography photos for the better. ​

Further reading - photography for beginners

This is not the only article in the “photography tips for beginners” series and there are others besides. So, if you found this article interesting or useful below are the other photography tips for beginners articles you may want to check out.

“Travel photography tips”is an article full of tips, tricks and advice to help you get the best travel photos you can. We all want decent travel/vacation photos, and this article should help you achieve that.

“Lighthouse photography tips” is an article providing tips and tricks to improve your lighthouse photography. Okay, lighthouse photography isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and it is a little niche, but it is interesting and if you haven’t given it a go I suggest you do, and this article will set you in good stead.

“Stock photography tips” is an article focusing on the world of stock photography, which as I am sure you are aware is a way to generate income with your photos. Success in stock photography relies on the quality of images you submit and the tips and tricks in this article will improve your stock photos, and hopefully your bank balance too.

“Flower photography tips” is an article dedicated to capturing stunning photos and images of flowers. Flowers are a commercial subject and a great way to earn a little extra cash with your camera, however it is a competitive market and if you want to succeed you need to take photos that are not only well exposed and high quality but also unique, individual and something a little different. This article will provide you with some excellent tips and tricks to get the most from your flower photography.

“Insect photography tips”Insect photography is challenging, I mean scuttling around trying to take decent photos of small critters isn’t easy but the tips and tricks in this article should help you out no end.

“Motorsports photography tips”is an article that dedicated to the world of motorsports and contains several tips, tricks and bits of advice that should help you capture motorsports images that will impress.

“Landscape photography tips”is an article full of tips and trips that will help you capture those stunning panoramic landscapes that everyone likes. Decent landscape photos are commercial and, if you can get in the market, there is some decent money to be made. These tips and tricks will help you get there.

“Black and white photography tips”is an article jam packed full of tips to improve your black and white photography. Many people think the best way to capture black and white photos is to simply desaturate a colour photograph in the digital darkroom, however there is a lot more to it than that. If you want to improve your black and white photos this article is a must read.

“Fashion photography tips”is an article focusing solely on the world of fashion photography. If you want to capture commercial fashion photos that will make you stand out from the crowd this article is something you should take a look at.

“Street photography tips”is an article full of tips and tricks to take your street photography to the next level. If you need a bit of a hand to improve your street photos this article is something you need to take a look at.